Contraceptive Equity
Colorado law requires health-insurance plans that cover prescription medication to provide the same coverage for contraception.What is required? All health-insurance policies must cover contraception in the same manner as any other sickness, injury, disease, or condition that is otherwise covered under the policy.
To which insurance plans does the law apply? The law applies to all group and individual sickness and accident insurance policies issued or renewed within the state to an employer as of January 1, 2011.
Does the law provide additional protections for women? Yes. The law ensures that insurers offering individual sickness and accident insurance plans cover maternity care. Supplemental policies covering a specific disease or other limited benefit are exempt. The law, however, does permit insurance plans in the individual market to exclude coverage for an existing pregnancy if a woman is pregnant on the date the policy is issued. This exclusion cannot apply to subsequent pregnancies.
Does the law contain a refusal clause, allowing certain employers and/or insurers to refuse to provide or pay for contraceptive coverage? No.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 10-16-104 (3) (Enacted 2010).
